Method of operating steam-heating systems.



C. A. BALL.

METHOD 0F OPERATING STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1902.

C. A. BALL.

METHOD 0F OPERATING STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1902.

-HHW i x x M, N

C. A. BALL.

METHOD OF OPERATING STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS.

Patented` Apr. 30, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AYPLICATION FILED NOV. G, 1902 AUNTTED STATES PATENT oEEioE. y

CHARLES A. BALL, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE To WARREN WEBSTER @a co., or CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF OPRATING STEAM-HEATING- SYSTEMS.

` Specification of Letters vPatent. l

Application ied NovemberG, 1902. Serial No. 130,33).`

tracting the same from the radiators or coils,

and then separating the air and water and separately returning' the latter to the source of steam supply; secondly, in providing a new method of establishing the desired vacuum at the radiators or coils, consisting in maintaining an excess vacuum at the vacuum pump and automatically reducing the saine to the desired degree at a -poiiit or points continguous 'to the radiators or coils; thirdly, in providing a new method of circulating exhaust steam to points remote from the power fixtures, consisting in maintaining an excessI vacuum at the vacuum pump and in the vacuum pipe and automatically reducing-the same to the desired degree at points remote from said vacuum pump and contiguous to the radiators or coils; and, fourthly, in providing a novel method of returning the water of condensation to the source of steam supply.

These objects I preferably accomplish in the manner and bythe means hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating an apparatus designed to carry thesame into effect, and embodied in an application for Letters Patent, filed of even date herewith, Serial No. 130,331, in which:

Figurel is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of an apparatus for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, also partly iii section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the application of my invention to a series of independent sets of radiators in the Same or Y separate buildings.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in ie several views.

In the said drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes the steam supply main for Patented Apr. 30, 1912.y .g

the system, the saine being adapted to be connected to a boiler direct for receiving a supply of live steam, or to the exhaust side of power fixtures to receive a supply of exi haust steam, it being also understood that these connections maybe such that liveandexhaust steam may be employed alternately in the same system according to th'econ.-

ditions prevailing. Tapped into the main 1, and extending downwardly therefrom, is a drip pipe 2 adapted to receive any water* of condensation from said main.

The main 1 extends at the right to the heating radiators or coils of the system, the

return from which is through pipe 3 which divides at 4 intoa waterreturnl pipe 5 and a vacuum pipe 6, the latter being connected at the left with the usual vacuum pump now commonly employed in systems using exhaust steam for removing the air and water of condensation from the return side there-*` of. Located in` said exhaust pipe 6 is a downwardly opening reducing valve 7 the same having a downward pressure exerted -thereon by weight 8, and having its stem 9 connected to a diaphragm 10 in chamber 11,k

the .underside of the latter being exposed to atmospheric pressure through apertures 12, and having its upper side in freey conimunication with the exhaust pipe 6 on the radiator Side of. valve 7 through pipe 13. "f"

Located below the main 1 are two cham- 1 bers 14 and 15, divided by a partition 16,-

in which is located a connecting pipe 17 having a valve 18 therein for permitting a passage from chamber 14 to chamber 15,-

but for preventing a passage in the reverse direction. The pipe 5 extends into an enlargement- 19 containing a removable strainer or sieve 20. for catching any imi-fl purities in the 'condensation water, and saidl -enlargement is tapped into chamber 14', as

shown. A pipe 21 extendingfrom the lower portion of chamber 15 is provided withl an upwardly opening valve 22, and a cut-oit -valve 23 and communicates with a force" pump of any conventional type located in icc the boiler room for returning the water to the boiler.

ed, but vertically movable, in suitable guides i705 I Located in chamber 14 is a rod 24 mount-l.-

builds up therein, but is prevented from liowing therefrom into chamber 15 because the constant vacuum ofinches maintained in chamber 14 will begreater than the suction created in chamber 15 by the acl tion of the constantly running force pump connected with pipe 21. Vhen, however, the Water has built up in chamber 14 sufficient to raise float 26, the latter, contacting with intermediate stop 27, Will raise rod 24 and with it arm 28 of bell-crank lever 29, thus opening valve 34, through parts 31, 32 and 33, and thus exerting the full vacuum of 2O inches, constantly existing in pipe 6 to the left of valve 7, upon chamber 15. This difference between 20 inches vacuum in chamber 15 and 10 inches vacuum in chamber 14 will cause an instant discharge of the Water in chamber 14 through valve 18 into chamber 15, which will continue until float- 26, by contacting with the lowermost of the stops 27 on rod 24, forces said rod downward, and, through uppermost stop 27, returns arm 28 vto its initial position, thus closin valve 34 and shutting '0H the vacuum from hamber 15. Now, although the force pump connected with pipe 21 is running constantly, so long as chamber 15 is closed to atmospheric or other pressure the only result will be a limited building up of a leg of Water in pipe 21, Which is prevented from possible back flow by valve 22. But, When waterhas discharged into chamber 15 suiiiciently to raise the float 38 to the position shown in Fig. 1, the same, by contacting with uppermost stop 39 on rod 36, will have raised said rod, as shown, Which Will, through lowermost stop 39, raise arm 40 of bell-crank lever 41, and thus, through parts 43, 44 and 45, open valve 46, and thus establish communication bet-Ween pipe 48 and chamber 15. Now, if live steam is being employed in main- 1, the pressure thereof on valve 49 will raise the latter, and an immediate discharge of the Water of condensation in drip pipe 2 will take place through pipes 48 and 47 into chamber 15, the same being tolloived by the live steam, which will at'- tord the` necessary press1u=e--ifr"chamber 15 to permit the force pump connected to pipe 21 to receive the Water in said chamber and return it to the boiler or feed Water heater, said action continuing until float 38 falls in contact with intermediate stop 39 and-forces down rod36 and arm 40, thus again closing valve 46. rlhe steam contained in chamber 15 will nom' condense and will thus assist in creating a vacuum therein, thus rendering the next intermittent action of chamber 15 more rapid when valve 34 is again opened Vhen, however, exhaust steam 1s being elnployed in main 1, the necessary pressure in chamber 15, when valve 46 is opened, will he supplied by atmospheric air entering pipe 4S through valve 50, thus rendering the chamber 15 operative under either condition of steam supply to main 1. It Will be un.`

derstood that should the Water of condensation n drippipe 2 build up therein against valve 49, when it reaches t-he level of valve 53 it will automatically discharge through pipe 52 into chamber 14, the constant vacuum Vof 10 inches therein causing said valve to function as will those on the radiators of the system.

This Asystem is intended more particularly to be employed where the building or buildings to be heated are located at a distance from the source of steam supply, even as much as a milt` or more apart, for it Will be apparent that by maintaining a constant and excessive vacuum in pipe 6 on the boiler side of valve 7, andby regulating said valve to reduce to suit the conditions of the building to be heated, a vacuum may be malin-v tained on the radiator side that Will obtain a. maximum of efficiency and Will operate not only to assist the circulation of'live steam in main 1 and through the radiators, but also to draw exhaust steam therethrough, a' result not heretofore accomplished.

In Fig. 3, I have shown my invention applied to independent sets of radiators or coils in the same or in separate buildings.

ln Fig. 3, A, B and C represent different buildings, or A and B may be considered as different parts of the same building. K are the radiators, J are the steam 'supply pipes and 3 are the return pipes. The radiators are provi-ded as usual With automatic valves at their connection With the returns to vprevent reepassage of steam, While allowing the air and Water to pass through the returns. D is the boiler or other source of steam supply such as the exhaust of an engine; E is the vacuum pump; F is the force or boiler feed pump; H isvthe vacuum return pipe for air, and Gr is the pipe for returning` the water of condensation. Where A and B are in the same building, the source of steam supply may be equally distant from` both and their heating equipments. In Fig. 3, the extents of vacuum in the return pipes in the several buildings or parts of the buildings may be the same or (litterent accordlng to predetermined adjustment -main, vacuum return pipe and water return pipe connected to all of said apparatus, each apparatus being constructed and having its siiil lh@ coi'iiiiliiiins of his iii.' mi in ciniwiliwiiligil ii'i'in" i;

lin-in.

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of Con- Qll' izfill hn observed hiii'; the wille* iliriiiszii'inn in glo-Wn 'pipi 5 inltU chiniiliiieif Il; ifi .iifniincii fin :i linie in thi, Vhillii, ihm limiiig; anni@ nl? ils; heiit unil@ l'hciviii hi' iftiiliiiiiiina iiiii'l Siiiiil n'iil'ei is :igin invii lfm' :i Linn; in chiiinher 153 lling iig inni-i3 of ilu heat units therein. F- nnlly7 lhiey inifgiinilii'eiil nation 'nf ih@ force pump iin lh@ i 'ulm' in chsniihifi l5 mises 'the ii'iilm lo hiiiiil' up in :i leg' iii the pipe 2l on ilh` iviiy hziil; lo the hnilci: und i0 have peiiuiis of iiuiiriieiici in Suid pipo 2li while lh@ chiinihii l5 is lillingy; up` llius CzinSing ai `l i'lhifi' ions 0l? hunt unix@l to the Water, ih@ i'csiill iwing; lihiit lh@ waitin. niiil reach the sourcil. ol? filmini Supply in ii coiniiiiiitivly coni cnniiilion, hun rendering iiniiocessziy ihr; ixiiiployiiiuiili ojl ii icl; conilonser with the simio., such :isi usually loiinil necessary t@ ij-,iniiiiijgf'i ifi-iiiiiciiiiijif whom :i vacuum pump is eiupliiycii, Vi'LlE found lo he 'loo Gooi, h@ wiiiii hlfiiw heilig i'ol'in'imil lio ihn boi'lei. imi),Y he iiiiflfili'l lhiougfh lhvy iiniiiil lul Wai/ei: hi

have Shown and described the iihm'e iiipiiiiilnis :is iiiiiliciiianly Well adaptiii lio iziii'i'j/ iiii'o iliiisli iniY iininoveii n'litlmiis7 i ilu niiiy ii i lo he iinfleislooijhns liinl-ing' inysixif lo f iii ciii'inli'iicliiin, the same iiiziy hv ilviiiiifliiig; 'liiiiii ih@ spiiili of iny prcsenl' invention. i

.ln lhiii :ipiiliiniliiiii no cliiiin is made lni vlh@v iiiiiiziiiil'iis heroin shin'i'fii) 'lhvv sinne forinin#l ih@ ,siihjifii infillifif 0l`iiihei.' iliending zipiliifiiliinis` iniiii inii'liifuhii'iy my :ippliczilion ii. ll'hibl, lilcil November Gi 1902, iii'hinhiliuii i'il'iii'iil lin. y

Vl iii ving' lhiisy flosifi'ihiid in i/fY invention7 Whzi iz'hiiiii iinI new :ind ln/sim l0 SCi/urn hy Linz i's 'u iilcnl; is:

l. in :i ylinnn hailing syslini, lh@ ineihoci nl! iiiiii'iiliiig lh@ ninna, which wnsisis in siiiiiilyiiisi si l:ini lo the supply siii@ heieof7 iiiiiiiiliiiiiin'gl :i '-rziituiiin in lh@ isliiuh Side ihli'iu'l' iii ixirii of the i'iigiiii'einiznls, iniiiinu liiiiiiiijr :i iosnii' viiiriuiin (if the iiosiifecl de- ;'ili :il :i lnoinl. itiniliguiius lo che healing' iminl'., siiiil hS-sii' viicuuin using cnnlioiifbd hy hie igi'milifi' viiiuuin, iililizing` lh@ said hssiii' Jziifuiiin lo wilhih'ziw :iii :ind wzi'l'er of (minimisation l'i'oin lh@ hailing;` poinli, and uliiiziiig niiiii gi'inlci' vziifninn lo :iid in relui-ning lh@y mitm' of vondunsiiliion to the sigiiiiii olf filmini supply. v

'3. 'ln ii sliiiin imiling S'Vsl'ein, lhe method in iiiiii'iiliiigf lh@ Sinne. which ibonsisls in supplying sliiini l'ii lh x supply Side thereof, iiiiiil'ziiii-ingf ii i'iiifunin in lh@` ieliiin siii@ viiiiizil within. wide liinil's' iifithout' densation from the heating point, separating the water and air by gravity, discharging the air by means of one of the vacuums, utilizing said greater vacuum and the steam supply to aid in returning said water to the source of steam supply, and applying a constant suction distinct Jr'rom the vacuums as the primary means of return for said water.

3. In a steam heating system, the method of operating the same, which consists in supplying steam to'the supply side thereof, maintaining a vacuum in the return side thereof in excess of the requirements, maintaining a lesser vacuum of the desired degree at a point contiguous to the heating point, said lesser vacuum being controlled by the greater vacuum, utilizing said lesser vacuum to withdraw air and water o condensation .from the heating point, sep arating the water and air by gravity, discharging the air by means of one of the vacuums, intermittently moving the water on its return by means of the greater vacuum to a position to be returned to the source of steam supply, applying a constant suction distinct from the vacuums as the primary means of return for said water, and intermittently controlling the operation of said suction by means of the steam supply or the atmospheric air.

4:. The herein described method of steam heating, which consists in supplying steam to a plurality of separate heating units each consisting of a large number of radiators o r coils in multiple between the supply and return pipes,

-maintainmg a source of high vacuum in its excess ot the requirements) of the heating system, maintaining a lower vacuum in each of the returnv pipes connecting with the radiators or coils of the respective heating units, automatically and independently maintaining the conditions ot lower vacuum in each of the return pipes substantially constant by automatically controlling the communication between the source of high vacuum and low vacuums in the return pipes in accordance with variations in the extent of vacuum in the said return pipes, causing the water ot' condensation in each heating unit to flow to a separate receiver`therefor under the influence of the low vacuum, and causing the water of condensation to flow from the receivers of cach of the heating units untler the iniuence of the ycommon high vacuum.

5. rIhe herein described method of steam heating, which consists in supplying steam from a common source to a plurality of separate heating units each consisting of a large number of radiators or coils in multiple between the supply and return pipes;

vmaintaining a source of high vacuum in l'excess of the requirements' of the heating system. n'=aintaining a lowervacuuln in each 'ments of the heating system,

of the return pipes connecting with the radiators or coils of the respective heating units, automatically and independently maintaining the conditions of lower vacuum in eachaof the return pipes substantially constant by automatically controlling the communication between the source of high vacuum and lo-w vacuums in the return pipes in accordance with variations in the extent of vacuum in the said return pipes, causing the Water of condensation in each heating unit to flow to a separate receiver therefor under the influence of the low vacuum, causing the water of condensation to flow from the receivers of each of the heating units under the intiuence of the 'common high vacuum, and independently controlling the discharge of the waterfrom the respective receivers by the level of theA water therein.

G. The herein described method of steam heating, which consists in supplying steam from a common source to a plurality of separate heating units each consisting of a large number of radiators or coils in multiple between the supply and return pipes,

maintaining a source of high vacuum 1nA excess of the requirements of the heating system, maintaining'a lower vacuum in each of the return pipes connecting with the radiators or, coils of the respective heating units, automatically and independently maintaining the conditions of lower vacuum in each of the return pipes substantially constant by automatically controlling the .communication between the source of high vacuum and low vacuums in the return pipes in accordance with variations in the extent of vacuum in the said return pipes, said communication being above the level where the water of condensation collects, causing the water of condensation in each heating unit to flow to the lowest point in the heating unit and to a separate receiver therefor under the influence of the low vacuum, causing the water of condensation to flow from the receivers of each ,of the lheating units underthe influence of the common high vacuum simultaneously with the maintaining of the action of the high vacuum on the low vacuum in the return pipes at a higher level than where the water collects in the receiver, and independently controlling the discharge of the water Jfrom the respective receivers by the level of the water therein.

7. The herein described method of steam heating which consists in supplying steam to the heating system, maintaining a source of high vacuum inexcess of the requiremaintaining a lower vacuum -in the return pipe of the heating system, automatically and independently maintaining the conditions of the low vacuum in the return pipe substantially m'l'lum by che w 0I the e reserver,

, Y ly wl'lercoi have hereunto hand i1; the, prefsjnce of Wo sub- 

